Studying Percussion at Berklee

At Berklee, you will find your own voice and develop your own style. You won't be limited to one direction. We encourage you to experiment with other styles that interest you, so that you can challenge yourself and improve your skills. Berklee prepares you for today's music by building on traditional aspects of learning. Percussion Department instruction emphasizes a solid foundation in the standard technical challenges of professional performance. Principal instruments include:

Orchestral Percussion - Orchestral percussion studies including snare drum, mallet percussion, timpani, hand percussion, multiple percussion, and drum set technique. The orchestral percussion principal can also include an emphasis on marimba, with additional studies in other mallet percussion and concert percussion instruments.

Marimba - Marimba studies include two and four mallet technique and repertoire interpretation; solo works are emphasized in addition to utilizing the marimba in ensemble settings. Marimba transcriptions, standard repertoire, and student composing skills are are utilized in the learning of solo works.

Private Lessons

In your first week at Berklee, you will be auditioned by the Percussion Department faculty and placed with an instructor best suited to your needs for private instruction. Every student will take at least four semesters of private lessons and must pass a final exam at the end of each semester on the skills he/she has learned (music education and professional music majors will take six semesters; performance majors will take eight semesters).

Instrumental Labs

These group lessons bring together percussionists of similar skill levels and provide training in specific aspects of percussion performance. Many of the teaching materials used in these labs are created by the Berklee faculty who will be teaching you. Offerings include required lab subjects such as basic grips, sticking techniques, basic time feels, and snare drum/drum set reading skills, as well as more advanced chart/lead sheet reading, brush techniques, odd meters, polyrhythms, and improvisation studies.

Courses

The courses at Berklee are continually reviewed and evaluated so that they consistently reflect today's musical needs. In percussion classes, you will learn the history of your instrument and analyze its present-day challenges while also pursuing a more in-depth study of styles and techniques.

Ensembles

Through ensembles, you will hone essential performance skills and techniques. They will help you broaden your stylistic range, expand your network of musical friends and colleagues, and give you experience playing with a variety of groups. Ensembles are offered in multiple sections for varying levels of ability. You choose the group and style that appeal to you. Your eligibility is determined by ongoing auditions that measure your growth as a performer. This system enables you to move into more advanced ensembles as you develop your skills.